THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, May 3, 1996                    TAG: 9605030490
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B9   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                            LENGTH: Short :   35 lines

AFTER 13 YEARS, DIRECTOR LEAVES HAMPTON ROADS URBAN LEAGUE

Mary Redd Nelson, executive director of the Urban League of Hampton Roads for 13 years, has left the organization.

The Urban League had not prepared a statement Thursday on Nelson's departure.

Although there had been no warning publicly, Nelson said in a brief interview, ``It's not that sudden. I just decided to move on to other things.''

``It's something that I've thought about for some time. I haven't talked about it a lot. The people who know me best will not be surprised.''

Nelson has been director of the Urban League since 1983. The organization focuses on issues of concern in urban areas, particularly racial harmony and poverty.

The group runs tutorial programs and bestows annual awards for equal-opportunity practices and civic activism.

The Urban League's national president, Hugh B. Price, came to the local chapter's annual fund-raising banquet in Norfolk on March 14.

Nelson helped pull together a diverse group of more than 600 members and corporate contributors for the event, which raised a record $105,000. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

``The people who know me best will not be surprised,'' said Mary

Redd Nelson, who has been director of the Urban League since 1983.

by CNB